Durga Puja begins

The annual festival began through Mahashashthi Puja and will end with the immersion of the idols on Bijoya Dashami on October 11. The main Durga Puja mandaps in the city were installed at Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramna Kali Temple, Dhaka University’s Jagannath Hall, Ramakrishna Mission, Anandamayi Ashram and Loknath Brahmachariya Ashram. As part of the festival, Mahasaptami will be held today while Mahaastami tomorrow, Mahanabami on Monday and Mahadashami on Tuesday. This year Durga Puja is being celebrated at some 29,500 mandaps across the country, including 229 in Dhaka city, according to Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. Last year, the number was 29,074, including 229 in the capital. Different TV channels and radio stations broadcast special programmes while the national dailies publish special supplementary on the occasion. According to Hindu faith, Goddess Durga comes down to the Earth from the heaven to establish peace, harmony by annihilating evil forces.